Child&#39;s shoe.



N0; 67|,358. Patented Apr. 2, I908.

u. E. TAYLOR.

CHlLD'S SHOE.

(Application filed Feb. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

HENRY E. TAYLOR, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CHILDS SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,358, dated April 2,1901.

Application filed February 4, 1899. Serial No. 704,515. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Provideuce, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ChildrensShoes, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to so construct shoes of a size adaptedfor small children or infants that the child or infant may be enabled inits initial efforts to use its feet and legs for propulsion to obtain apurchase with its feet upon the floor or other surface upon which it isplaced. I accomplish this result by providing the shoe with a thinnarrow strip of rubber or other friction-producing material fastenedalong that portion of the edge of the sole that is forward of theinstep, and in order that the strip may come into contact with the floorin whatever position the child may place its foot in the act of creepingI extend the strip so that its edge projects slightly beyond the edge ofthe sole.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1 represents thebottom of a childs shoe constructed in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a cross-section along line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 to 5,inclusive, are cross-sections representing modified constructions.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, E represents a shoe of a size adapted forsmall children. P is the upper of the shoe, S is the sole, and m is abody of friction-producing material, such as rubber, securely fastenedto the bottom of the sole along its edge forward of the instep andhaving a portion 19, extending beyond the general outline of the edge ofthe sole to In Figs. 4 and 5 the friction-producing material isarranged, as before, to conform to the general outline of the sole ofthe shoe; but'in this case it comprises a thin portion for attaching itto the sole of the shoe, while the portion which projects beyond andprotects the side of the sole from contact with the flooris thickenedorbeaded,as shown atp.

The constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 5 are evidently more readilycarried out when the shoe is in the process of manufacture; but thefriction-producing material may be readily applied in the manner shownin Figs. 2 and at, either before or after the shoe has been completed.

As a means for fastening the friction-producing material to the sole Imay and preferably do use cement, although any suitable fastening meansmay be employed; also, any suitable friction-producing material may beemployed; but I prefer to use elastic or yielding rubber.

From the above it will be apparent that my invention comprises a childsshoe having a thin narrow strip of friction-producing material extendingalong-the edge of the sole forward of the instep and so arranged that afriction-producing surface will be interposed whenever it is attemptedto bring either the bottom or the side of the sole into contact with thefloor. It also includes as an article of manufacture a thin narrowfriction-producing strip adapted to be affixed to the sole of a childsshoe so as to project beyond the edge of the same for the purposespecified, all of these matters being clearly pointed out in the claimsannexed to this specification.

I do not claim, broadly, a shoe having its sole provided with afriction-producing material, nor do I claim, broadly, a shoe having astrip of friction producing material arranged along the edge of thesole, since such a construction is not in its broadest aspect novel.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is

1. A childs shoe having a thin, narrow strip of friction-producingmaterial, shaped to conform to a portion of the outline of the sole andsecured to the said sole along its edge forward of the instep andextending laterally slightly beyond the edge of the sole so as topresent a flexible gripping-surface for engagement with the floor in anyangular position of the sole with respect to the floor, for the purposeof aiding the childin creeping.

' beyond the edge of the sole to engage with the floor and serve as aflexible gripping-s11 r- 10 face in any angular position'of the solewith respect to the floor, for the purpose of aiding the child increeping.

HENRY E. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

HENRY BROWN, RICHARD E. LYMAN.

